From fruity to chocolatey and everything in between, Australia’s best supermarket hot cross buns have been revealed, just in time to stock up for Easter.

Each year the lucky crew at CHOICE taste test hot cross buns served up by supermarkets across Australia, and this year 29 different buns were put through their paces. Traditional fruit, chocolate, gluten-free and regular were tested from national supermarkets including Coles and Woolworths as well as IGA, Aldi, Bakers Delight and Costco. They were tested toasted and untoasted and included 14 traditional fruit varieties.

Coming out top of the pops in 2024 … drum roll please … Woolworths’Luxurious Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns. It’s the second consecutive year Woolies has taken out the top billing.

“Woolworths Luxurious Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns scored first place in our taste test with a score of 72%. Our experts praised it for its pleasant aroma which intensified when toasted,” said CHOICE Editorial Director Mark Serrels.

The CHOICE experts blind taste tested each hot cross bun, giving them a rating based on flavour, appearance, aroma and texture.

Australia’s Top Hot Cross Buns 2024

Here’s how each supermarket hot cross bun fared in taste testing by CHOICE.

Best Traditional Fruit Hot Cross Bun

Woolworths Luxurious Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns

CHOICE Expert Rating: 72%
Toasted score: 72%
Fresh (untoasted) score: 72%
Price: $1.25 per bun ($5 per 4-pack)
Health Star Rating: 3.5
Good to know: This bun had the highest fruit percentage out of all the buns we tested (30%); it contains cranberries, candied orange peel and cinnamon myrtle; and the pack price is the same as last year.

Experts say: 

• “The bun had a nice shine with an even cross; well baked and when broken it had a nice aroma; the addition of citrus peel and cranberries was good to see.”
• “Pleasant aroma; soft and a nice chew to the texture; not a very strong aroma, but this intensifies on toasting and it has a good level of spice on the palate.”
• “Toasts well; good fruit distribution; better aroma when toasted.”

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Best Chocolate Hot Cross Bun

Bakers Delight Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns

CHOICE Expert Rating: 70%
Toasted score: 78%
Fresh (untoasted) score: 71%
Price: $1.50 per bun ($9 per 6-pack)
Health Star Rating: 1.5
Good to know: 25% chocolate, baked on-premises, and the pack price is the same as last year.

Experts say:

• “Nice spicy aroma with sweet chocolatey overtones when melted; even spread of small chocolate chips; soft texture with a slight chew; can taste some spice with the chocolate.”
• “Great product – the appearance was pleasing with a nice chocolate cross; when broken open the aroma of spice and chocolate was evident; the texture was light and the flavour was pleasing with the chocolate coming through in both the untoasted and toasted samples.”
• “Good size and height; lots of chocolate evident; good choc crosses. Bun toasted well; better when toasted as the choc flavour was more evident; choc was quite sweet.”
  

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Best Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns

Woolworths Free From Gluten Fruit Hot Cross Buns

CHOICE Expert Rating: 64%
Toasted score: 64%
Fresh (untoasted) score: 60%
Price: $1.30 per bun ($5.20 per 4-pack)
Health Star Rating: 4
Good to know: Vegan, no artificial colours or flavours, egg free, dairy free.

Experts say:

• “For a gluten-free product this was really good; when toasted this had a pleasing aroma; the flavour profile was quite good; there was a good amount of fruit present; overall good product.”
• “Good size, shape and glaze; pleasant aroma; a little dry and crumbly with a floury texture when untoasted; good flavour balance; mild spiciness but mainly sultana flavour.”
• “Nicely glazed top; grainy mouthfeel when fresh; nice plump fruit – sultanas and currants evenly distributed; hard cross that aren’t pleasant to eat.”

Woolworths Free From Gluten Chocolate Hot Cross Buns

CHOICE Expert Rating: 67%
Toasted score: 71%
Fresh (untoasted) score: 64%
Price: $1.30 per bun ($5.20 per 4-pack)
Health Star Rating: 3
Good to know: Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa, vegetarian, no artificial colours or flavours, egg free.

Experts say:

• “Good size and height; lots of choc evident; pleasant choc aroma; good texture that seems crumblier than it is on eating; surprisingly good; even better toasted; toasts well with good texture contrasts.”
• “For a gluten-free product, this was really good; good amount of chocolate and this definitely made all the difference in the flavour; texture was good; toasting the bun enhanced the flavour.”

What’s your favourite supermarket hot cross bun? Let us know in the comments below!

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